Creative Social Prescription
Creative experiences that support connection, wellbeing and participation
1. Refer
People can be referred or connected to our programmes through social prescribing and other community referral pathways, depending on the local model and commissioning arrangements.
2. Create & Connect
We deliver welcoming creative sessions online, in person or through a blended approach.
Activities can include storytelling, visual arts, music, movement, creative writing, film and social creative experiences.
Programmes can be delivered as one-off experiences or as a series of sessions, depending on the needs of the community and the objectives of the programme.
3. Learn & Evaluate
We build appropriate feedback, participation and evaluation into our programmes so that commissioners and partners can understand engagement, participant experience and learning.
Where appropriate, we can work with partners to develop measures aligned with programme objectives.
What We Can Support
Our creative programmes can be designed around a range of social and wellbeing priorities, including:
- Social connection and loneliness
- Confidence and self-expression
- Community participation
- Wellbeing and emotional wellbeing
- Healthy lifestyles and behaviour change
- Connection to culture and creativity
- Opportunities for people to develop new interests and relationships
We work with partners to understand the needs of the people being referred and develop an approach that is appropriate to the local context.
Creative Social Prescription in Practice
Our wider work includes creative health programmes, storytelling, arts-based engagement and community projects that demonstrate how creative activity can be incorporated into health and wellbeing approaches.
Further Reading
Explore our writing and resources on creativity, culture, social prescribing and wellbeing.
- Why Creativity & Culture Matter for Wellbeing and Why We Need More of It in Our Communities
- Why Creative Social Experiences Like Sip & Paint Are More Than Just Fun
- From Strategy to Wellbeing: Why the NHS Workforce Plan Makes Space for Creativity at Work
- How StoryTellThem Can Transform NHS Social Prescription with Storytelling
- Why Creative Socialising Is So Powerful
- The Healing Power of Soul Music: How Music Elevates Wellbeing
- Music & Movement on Asthma Management
- Creative Arts in Health and Social Care
Let's Work Together
If you are developing a social prescribing programme or looking for creative provision within an existing pathway, we'd be happy to explore what could work in your setting.
Who We Work With
Our social prescription work can support:
- Social prescribing teams and link workers
- Primary Care Networks
- GP practices
- Integrated Care Boards and commissioners
- Public health teams
- Mental health and community services
- Local authorities
- Voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations
We also collaborate with creatives, community organisations and other specialist partners to bring the right expertise together around each programme.
Why Creative Approaches?
Social prescribing creates opportunities to connect people with activities, relationships and community resources that sit alongside traditional healthcare.
Our role is to provide creative experiences that people can participate in and enjoy, while creating opportunities for connection, expression and belonging.
The approach can be particularly valuable where people may benefit from social connection, meaningful activity or opportunities to explore creativity within their community.
Evaluation & Learning
We don't simply deliver sessions and walk away.
Depending on the programme, we can capture participant feedback, engagement data, qualitative insight and other appropriate measures to understand what participants experienced and what the programme contributed.
Our evaluation approach can be designed with commissioners and partners from the outset.